"The Architecture of Joy"

Casa Kike

“Casa Kike is a small scheme punching way above its weight. Too many schemes get lost in second thoughts. Here success is dependent on the absolute simplicity of the initial diagram and a refusal by the architect to over-complicate it. Two buildings, each a parallelogram, are orientated so their sides are parallel to the boundaries of the site. The glazed ends (and here’s the clever bit) are then twisted away from the meridian so as to catch the northerly sea breezes.

The house is built on 1.2-metre piles of the hardest of hard woods, Cachà, which is so dense that it sinks in water. As a result it is also termite proof, an important factor in these parts. The point about the house is books (17,000 of them) so the fact that the books and the structure are brought together in what are in effect structural bookcases is highly appropriate. The two pavilions are linked by a raised walkway which is long enough so that the smaller building is not in the wind shadow of the bigger one.

Issues of sustainability are impossible to ignore in Costa Rica, which has one of the best track records in this regard in the world. You cannot as much as take out a dead pine without government permission. So sourcing the three hardwoods needed for the house’s construction was problematic. At one point work stopped for three weeks while they awaited another delivery of the raw timber for the 10-metre long main roof beam.

For all the timber pyrotechnics of the roof structure and the irregularity of its shape, it is a calm and comfortable place to be. The project shows what can be achieved with a modest building type and a simple brief when placed in the hands of an imaginative and assured architect.”

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What, where, who?

This year’s brief sees a focus on wood and it’s potential for sustainable design. The students are to explore the extremes of its potential through undertaking and documenting material research through both physical and digital explorations. Brief one will produce a large scale wooden structure for an exhibition held at the university. The research should […]

Through extensive research into the construction of grid shells, as well as differential geometry, I present a design solution for a complex grid structure inspired by the highly symmetrical and optimised physical properties of a triply periodic minimal surface. The proposal implements the asymptotic design method of Eike Schling and his team at Technical University […]

Inspired by the highly symmetrical and optimised physical properties of a triply periodic minimal surface, ‘Minimal Matters’ aims to create an explorative, meditative and interactive experience for visitors. It is a strained grid shell utilising the geometrical benefits of an asymptotic curve network; digitally designed via algorithmic rules to minimise material, cost, and construction time. […]

A minimal surface is the surface of minimal area between any given boundaries. In nature such shapes result from an equilibrium of homogeneous tension, e.g. in a soap film. Minimal surfaces have a constant mean curvature of zero, i.e. the sum of the principal curvatures at each point is zero. Particularly fascinating are minimal surfaces […]

Introduction ‘Growth From The Ger’ seeks to analyse the vernacular structure of the traditional nomad home and use parametric thinking to create a deployable structure that can grow by modular. ‘Ger’ meaning ‘home’ is a Mongolian word which describes the portable dwelling. Commonly known as a ‘yurt’, a Turkish word, the yurt offered a sustainable […]

The Beauty of Curvature proposal seeks a way of developing a curved form created entirely out of flat plywood components, which connect with each other with interlocking slots and do not require any additional fixtures. The project explores the potential of plywood as a self-supporting material, and uses boards as thin as 2.7mm, which significantly […]

Tensegral Tipi uses mathematical symmetry to produce a structure that is in a state of equilibrium. The Tipi merges the concept of a conventional tipi with the structural stability of a tensegrity construction. A tensegrity construction is characterised by a stable three-dimensional structure consisting of members under tension that are contiguous and members under compression that […]

Inspired by the Islamic pattern, I discovered that some of the Islamic tiling pattern in shrine are similar to the Penrose tiling discovered by Sir Roger Penrose. Looking into the Penrose tiling, it has 3 types and they all follows the rule of golden ratio. These Penrose tiling arrangements each form a reflection and five-fold […]

Inspired by Japanese basketry weaving, Twisted Pellucidity takes this technique into an architectural scale. Through creating a set of twisted modules varied with a standard weave in between, the design flows between closed and open creating potential for naturally ventilated housing in hot regions of the world. It has been designed for disassembly to ease […]